Automatic circuit-closer.



L. LAPLANT. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8, 1910.

I Patented June 6, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Suva/H101 Z em der-flizapzdni wi/lmmm 7 5 r M M M r fll'foznu L. A. LAPLANT. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1910.

994,170. Patented June 6, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z. 1%. 1?.

L. A. LAPLANT. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1910.

Patented June 6,1911.

' Ewuwtow Leander flZapZani 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Qvi bweooe/a LEANnEa a. LarLaNr, or rnarrsnune, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 19111.

Application filed April 3,1910, Serial No. 554,205.

To all whom it may err/warn:

Be it known that T, LEANDER A. LAPLANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Plattsburg, in the county of Clinton and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit- Closers,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controlling switches designed for use inlighting or power circuits of any voltage, and is of that type which isopened and closed by electricalmeans included on a low voltage system.

.The invention has for one of its objects to improve the simpleconstruction-and operation of an apparatus of this character so that itshall be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture,reliablerand efficient in use and of such design as to afford a maximumsafety from shocks and fire.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a quick make andbreak switch having a novel toggle mechanism for moving the bridgingcontact of the switch to and from open and closed posit-ion.

A further object is the provision of a novel and efficientelectromagnetically actuated means operating through the togglemechanism to throw the bridging contact member.

An additional object is to provide a novel frame-work for supporting thevarious parts of the apparatus within a porcelain or other outlet box orcasing.

With these objects in view, and others as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the

invention comprises various novel features of construction andarrangement of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described, andset forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention:

Figure l is a plan view of the open side of the box showing the internalmechanism, the switch being closed. Fig. 2 'is a vertical sectional viewon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of the supporting frame of the switch. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the toggle mechanism and bridging contact. Fig. 6 isa perspective View of the armature, on the electro-magnets. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the electro-magnet supports. Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of one of the binding posts. Fig. 9 is, a view similar to Fig.

3, showing the moving parts of the switch where it is'desired to providean automatic control for the same.

Referring to the drawings, A designates aporcelain or other insulatedbox or cats ingin which the switch proper is housed, and this casing isprovided with notches or recesses 1 at two of its corners for the mainwires of the high voltage circuit to be controlied, and is also providedat the other corners with notches or recesses 2 for the terminal wiresof the low voltage controlling circuit, there being binding posts B, asshow.v in Fig. 8, secured in the casing or box adjacent the cornersthereof. Each binding postconsists of a metal piece 3 having anapertured base portion 4 and a laterally extending arm 5 and throughtheaperture of the base portion passes a screw 6 for securing thebinding post to the bottom of the casing, and in the arm 5 is a threadedscrew 7 for clamping the wire thereto. The binding posts'of the highvoltage circuit will, of course, be of greater current capacity thanthose for the low voltage cir-' cult.

The switch mechanism is a self-contained secured to the bottom vof thecasing or box" A by screws 10: Upon loosening these screws the framewith its attached parts is removable as afunit. The arms 5 are providedwith upwardly extending terminal members 11 which have inwardlyextending spaced rod-like guides ll for supporting parts of the togglemechanism, and projectmg] laterally from the members 11 are horivzontalguides 13 'on which thearmature of the electro-magnet slides. The arm 14of the frame C has an upwardly extending "t"- shaped member 15- that isprovided with spaced inwardly extending horizontal rodlike guides 16that form supports for the bridging contact of the switch. The remaining arm 17 on the frame 0 has an upstanding member 18 provided withslots 19, 19 and 20, 20. The members 11 are provided with apertures 21at points centrally between the guides 12 to receive the ends of ahorizontal rod 22 that extends entirely across the frame to supportparts of the toggle mechanism.

When the frame 0 is positioned in the box or casing A, the arm 14 willbe disposed at the side where the high voltage inding posts are locatedsince the bridging contact or bar 23 is arranged this side of the frame.This bar 23 has its central portion arched and the extremities areadapted to engage the binding posts B. On the bar 23 is secured a stripof insulating material 24 that has openings 25 through which looselypass the rod-like guides 16 to thus slidably support the bridgingcontact 23., Secured to the insulating piece 24 is a horizontallydisposed member 26 arranged at right angles to the contact 23 andbetween the guides 16 and this member 26 connects the bridging contactwith the toggle mechanism. This toggle mechanism consists of a pair ofupper links 27 and a pair of lower links 28, and the outer ends of bothsets of links are connected with vertically disposed yokes 29 whichslide back and forth on the rod-like guides 12 of the supporting frame Cand on the shaft 22, the links being hingedly connected at 30 with thesaid yokes. The inner ends of the upper links are hingedly connectedtogether by a pin 31 which passes through the member 26 of the bridgingcontact. Two levers 32 loosely fulcrumed on the shaft 22 connect thecorresponding links 27 and 28 together so that the said toggles w1lloperate simultaneously in opposite directions, and the said levers areconnected with the links by the ends of the levers extending freelythrough the openings 33 in the links. The member 26 of the bridgingcontact is continued beyond the toggle links 27.and is slidable throughthe upper slot 19 of the member 18, and connected with the links 28 1s amember 34 disposed parallel with the member 26 and slidable through thelower slot 19 of the said member 18. The free ends of the members 26and34 are provided with shoulders 35 and 36, and beyond the shoulders thesaid members are provided with beveled faces 37 and 38 for a purposehereinafter to be explained.

The electro-magnets 39 are disposed at the side of the vtoggle mechanismopposite from the bridging Contact 23 and they are secured to a yokestrip or bar 40 by screws or other fastenings passing through theopening 41, Fig. 7, and screwed intothe cores of the electro-magnets,and on the yoke piece 40 is :1 depending L-shaped member 42 which issecured to the bottom of the easing A by a screw or other fastening 43.On

the yoke 4O are formed abutments 44 and 45 disposed between theelectro-magnets and arranged in the path of the members 26 and 34 so asto spring the latter out of normal position when they are engaged withthe abutments in the operation of the switch.

The armature 46 may be made in the form of a solid or laminated bar andthe ends are recessed as at 47 so as to receive the guides 13 of theframe C, the armature being slidable back and forth on the guides byenergizing and denergizing the 'magnets. The

armaturelhas slots 48 and 49 through which the members 26 and 34 of thetoggle mechanism slide. The armature is. normally held away from thepolar faces of the electromagnets by means-of a spring 50 connected withthe center of the armature land fastened to v a hook 51 on the member 15of the frame C. On the armature 46 is secured a horizontally disposedU-shaped device 52 having spring members 53 and 54, the free extremitiesof which are slightly deflected' outwardly and formed into knife edges56 to engage the shoulders and 36 of the members 26 and 34.

Springs are employed in connection with the toggle mechanism to causethe last part of the movement to be more rapid than the first part.These springs, as shown in Figs. 1 and '2, are disposed on the endsofthe shaft or rod 22 and being of the helical compression type they areconfined between the arms 11 of the supporting frame C and the yokes orslides 29 to which the toggle links are connected. As the slides 29 moveout wardly, as the toggle links straighten, the springs are compressedand as soon as the central pivots or joints of the toggle links pass thedead centers the springs immediately expand so that the toggle links aresuddenly collapsed to cause the quick movement of the bridgin contact.The springs 60 are compressed during the first part of the movement ofthe armature, under the attraction of the electro-magnets, the springsthus acting in opposition to the latter. As soon as the toggle linkspass their dead centers. the springs will act in conjunction with the,electro-magnets, so that the combined forces will impart a suddenmovement to the bridging contact.

In describing the operation of the switch, it willbe assumedthat theparts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, which represents the bridgingcontact in closed circuit posi- I understood that the electro-Inagnets39 will be connected in an auxiliary or low potential circuit that willhave a switch located in a remote power house from which the englneercan openand closethe main circuit by merely closing and opening themanual switch in the power house for energizing the electro-magnets 39.When the electro-magnets 39 are energized, the armature 46 will beattracted ormoved to the left. During the first part of this movement,the spring 53 of the armature will engage the shoulder 35 of the uppertoggle member 26 and cause the said member to move with the armature.During this movement, the springs 50 and 60 will be p'lacedunder tensionand the toggle' links will be shifted until the parts are in the fullline posit-ion, shown in Fig. 9. As stated before, the last part of themovement of the armature and parts moved thereby will take placesuddenly owing to the expansion of the spring 60 when the toggle linkspass their dead centers. It will be noted that the upper member 26strikes the beveled surface 58 of the upper abutment 44 and the memberis thereby deflected from its normal position. The lower toggle member34-moves in the opposite direction from the upper member 25, but isprevented from engaging the lower spring 54 of the armature, since theabutment 45 will hold the member 34 depressed by the bevel 38 sliding onthe bevel 59 of the abutment, until the free end of the spring 54 haspassed the shoulder 36 of the member 34. In other words, when eithermember 26 or 34 of the toggle mechanism moves with the armature by theengagement of one spring thereof with one of said members, the othermember will be prevented from engaging the other spring of the armatureas it passes. The switch having been opened, it is merely necessary forthe engineer at the power house to cut out of Circuit theelectro-magnets 39. The electromagnets thus become deenergized and allowthe armature to return to normal position by the contraction of thespring 50. Since the armature and its springs are free and independentfrom the toggle mechanism, the latte'r will be unaffected when thearmature is moved to normal position by the spring 50. When it isdesired to again close the main circuit, the engineer at the power houseagain closes the secondary circuits to energize, the electro-m'agnets39. By so doing, the lower spring 54 of the armature comes into play byengaging the lower toggle mechanism member 34 to shift the parts to theposit-ion shown by dotted lines, Fig. 9, the bridging contact beingquickly thrown to closed-circuit position. Upon again opening thesecondary circuit, the electro-magnets 39 will be denergized to allowthe armature to return from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that showninFig. 3. It will thus beseen that the electro-magnets. must be energizedand denergized each time the switch is either opened or closed. In otherwords, on the alternate strokes of the armature in the same direction,the switch opens and closes.

From the foregoing description taken in connection .with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of'the constructionand of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention relates, and while I have described the apparatuswhich I now consider to be the best embodiment'thereof, 'I desire tohaveit understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative andthat such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope ofthe claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a switch including a movable element, a togglemechanism to which the element is. connected, an electrically actuateddevice movable in one direct-ion to operate through the mechanism formoving the element "to open or closed position and movable in theopposite direction independently of the mechanism to open and close theswitch by successive movements of the device.

2. The combination of a switch including a movable element, a togglemechanism connected with the element and including separate members, anarmature, means on the armature for engaging one member during onemovement of the armature to open the switch and for engaging the othermember during the next movement of the armature in the same direction toclose the switch, and an electro-magnet for operating the armature' 3.The combination of a switch including a movable element, an operatingmechanism therefor including separate members, a reciprocatory deviceengaging one member to throw the switch open when the device moves onone stroke andengaging the other member during the next similar strokefor throwing the switch closed, and means for moving the said ,devicemore rapidly during the last part of its stroke.

4. The combination of a switch including a movable elemerift, a togglemechanism connected therewith, separate members connected with thetoggle mechanism and operating in opposite directions, and means forsuccessively enga "ing the members to move the element to open andclosed positions.

5. The combination of a switch including a movable element, a mechanismincluding oppositely acting toggle links, a member connected with earthset of links, one of the members being connected with the said ele-'ment, and a reciprocatory device arranged to engage on one stroke oneof the members for opening the switch and 'onthe next similar stroke toengage the other member for closing the switch.

6. The combination of a switch including a movable element, a mechanismincluding oppositely acting toggle links, a member connected with eachset of links, one of the members being connected with the said element,and an electrically operated device movable between'the members andadapted during one stroke to engage one member so as to move the switchelement open, and on the next similar stroke to engage the other memberto move the switch element closed.

7. The combination of a switch including a movable element, separatesets of toggle. links 9 eratively connected to move simultaneous y inopposite directions, a connection between the toggle links and element,and a ,single electrical means operating through the toggle links tomove the element to open position upon energizing and decnergizing thesaid means and to move the element to closed position upon againenergizing and deenergizing the said element.

8. The combination of a switch includinga movable element, separatepairs ofoppositely acting toggle links operatively connected together,means for connecting the toggle links with the said element, separatemembers connected respectively with the said pairs of links, areciprocatory device, and separate members on the device one to engageone of the first mentioned members during one stroke of the device andthe other to engage the other first mentioned member during the nextsimilar stroke of the device 'for moving the switch element to open orclosed position.

9. A switch including a movable element, an operating mechanismconnected therewith and including members movable in oppositedirections, a device mounted for reciprocation and including separatemeans to successively engage the members on the successive strokes ofthe device to move the element to open or closed osition, and actuatingmeans forthe said device, said actuating means including springs adaptedto be placed under tension during the first part of the movement or thesaid means and to coact with the latter during the final part of themovement.

10 The combination of a switch including a movable element, a mechanism-for ,ac-

tuating the same including oppositely acting members each having ashoulder, a device having a spring for engaging the shoulder of eachmember to actuate the said mechanism, and means for preventing onespring from engaging its companion member while the other spring ismoving its companion member.

.11. The combination of a switch includsea-ire ing a movable element,operating means therefor including spaced resilient membersmovablesimultaneously in opposite directions, a device having means movablebetween the members for engaging the latter one at a time to throw theswitch element to open or closed position and means for preventing thefirst mentioned means from engaging one of the members during therearward movement thereof while the means is moving the other memberforwardly.

12. In a switch operating device, the combination of oppos1tely actuatedmembers operatively connected with the movable ele ment of the switch,an armature, an electromagnet for operating the armature, a pair ofmembers on the armature arranged one to engage one of the firstmentioned members during one stroke of the armature and the other toengage the other first mentioned members during the next stroke of thearmature in the same direction, and stationary -means. separate from themembers for permitting one'member of the armature to pass the adjacentmember of the switch operating device. while the other armature memberis engaged with and moves the other member of the said device.

13. A switch operating mechanism including oppositely acting spacedmembers, each member having a beveled free extremity and a shoulderadjacent .thereto, a reciprocatory device including springs movabletogether and arranged to engage the shoulders of the said memberselectrical means for actuating the said'device, and separate abutmentswith which the beveled ends of the members engage to hold each' memberout of the path of the adjacent spring of the device while the otherspring is engaged with and moving the other member.

14. A switch operating mechanism including'oppositely acting members, anarmature, springs 9n the armature to each engage one of the members onthe alternate stroke of the armature, an electro-magnet for moving thearmature in a direction to actuate the members, and means for moving thearmature in the opposite direction while the members remain idle.

15. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination of separate pairsof toggle links operatively connected with the movable element of theswitch, means for connecting the links together to operatesimultaneously in opposite directions, supports for the mounted 'tomovetoward and away from each other during the movement of he links, andelectrically operated means for alternately throwing the links inopposite di rections.

16. In a switch throwing mechanism, the combination of separatesets oftoggle links, means for connecting the links to the movable element ofthe switch, y'olies to which the outer QIIdSlOf both sets of links arepivotally connected, members connecting the corresponding links of bothsets together for simultaneous movement in opposite direc- 'tions, andactuating means for the links.

17. In a switch throwing mechanism the combinationof se arate sets oftoggle links, means for connecting-the links to the movable element ofthe switch, yokes to which the outer ends of both setsof links arepivotally connected, members connecting the corresponding links of bothsets together for simultaneous movement in opposite directions, andauelectro-magnetically operated armature for alternately reversing theposition of the links to open and close the switch. a

18. In a switch operating mechanism,- the combination of separate setsof toggle links, yokes to which the links are pivotally connected,supporting means on which the yokes move back and forth, amember'connected with each set of links, a reciprocatory device arrangedto engage during one stroke one of the members While, moving freely past7 the other member and vic versa on the next stroke, and means forconnecting the corresponding links of both sets together forsimultaneous movement in opposite directions.

19. A switch operating mechanism comprising a supporting frame, guidesthereon, a shaft on the frame, yokes movable back and forth on theguides and shaft, sets of toggle links connected with the yokes anddisposed at opposite sides of the shaft, a rocking element fulcrumed onthe shaft and loosely connected with the corresponding links of bothsets, means for connecting the links with the movable element of theswitch, and means arranged to operate alternately first on one set ofthe links and then on the otherset to throw the switch element open orclosed.

20. A switch operating mechanism including oppositely acting membersoperatively connected with the movable element of, the switch, abutmentswith which each member engages and is sprung to one side, and a devicealternately engaging the members to operate the same, the said devicebeing movable past the laterally sprung member Without engaging thesame.

21. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination of oppositelyacting members operatively connected with the movable ele-. ment of theswitch, an armature through which the members extend, said members andarmature being independently movable, a pair of springs on the armaturearranged to respectively engage the members, alternately, a slotteddevice through which the members and springs slide, and spaced abutmentsarranged in the path of the respective members to spring the same outoftheir normal path for permitting each spring to pass the adjacentmember while such spring and vmemberare moving in opposite directions.

22. Ina switch, the combination of a movable elementthrough whichcircuits pass, a toggle mechanism operatively connected with theelement, elect-ro-magnets, an armature disposed between theelectro-magnets and toggle mechanism, and means for operativelyconnecting the armature with the mechanism to open and close the switchand permitting the armature to return to normal position after theswitch is either opened or closed. 1

23. In a switch, the combination of a supporting frame, a contactelement movably mounted thereon, a toggle mechanism mounted on theframe, an armature mounted on the frame, means on the armature forengaging the toggle-mechanism to move the switch contact element to openor closed positions, and electro-magnets supported independently of theframe for actuating-the armature.

24. In a switch, the combination of a su porting frame, a contactelement movab y mounted thereon, a toggle mechanism mounted on theframe, an armature mounted on the frame, means;v on the armature forengaging the toggle fnechanism to move the switch contact element toopen and closed positions, electro-magnets supported independently ofthe frame for actuating the ar: mature, and an inclosing case in whichthe electro-magnets and frame with its attached parts are mounted. I

25. In a switch, the combination of a supporting frame, a contactelement movably mounted thereon, a toggle mechanism mounted on theframe, an armature mounted on the frame, means on the armature forengaging the toggle mechanism to move the switch contact element to openand closed position, electrg-magnets supported independently of theframe for actuating the armature, an inclosing case in which theelectro-magnets and frame with its attached parts are mounted, combinedbinding posts and 'contacts secured in the casing in such position as tobe engaged by said movable contact, and binding posts in the casing forconnecting the magnets in a circuit.

26. In a switch, the combination of a frame, a toggle mechanism mountedthereon, an armature movably supported at opposite ends on the frame, abridging contact on the frame and operatively connectedwith themechanism, and an electro-magnet for operating the armature.

27. In a switch mechanism of the class mounted therein, a togglemechanism mounted on the frame, a bridging contact mounted on the frameand connected with the toggle mechanism and disposed at one sidedescribed, a casing, a frame removably' thereof, an armature mounted onthe frame and disposed at the opposite side of the mechanism, electro-maets in the casing in cooperative relation with the armature, and meansbetween the armature and mechanism for actuating the latter.

28. In a switch, the combination of a toggle mechanism, a bridgingcontact actuated by the mechanism, an armature, electro-magnets for thearmature, a yoke for the magnets, separate devices on the armaturealternately engaging the mechanism for reversely actuating the same, andmeans on the said yoke for holding one device out of operative relationto the mechanism while the other device is actuating the mechanism.

29. In a switch, the combination of a movable contact element, anelectro-magnet, a toggle mechanism between the magnet and element, anarmature attracted by the electro-magnet to operate through the saidmechanism to move the element to open circuit position during oneenergization of the magnets and to closed circuit position during thenext energization of the magnets, and means operating on the tog 1emechanism to accelerate the last portion of the movement of the contactelement.

30. A switch comprisin a movable contact element, a toggle mec anismconnected with the element, an armature, means, between the armature andtoggle mechanism for reversing the latter by the succeeding na ivesimilar stroke of the armature, an electromagnet for actuating thearmature, and

springs first placed under tension during the initial part of themovement of the toggle mechanism and operating to cause a quick movementof the mechanism.

31. In a\quick make and break switch, a toggle mechanism' comprisingoppositely moving separate sets of links, yokes to which the links areconnected, springs pressing on the yokes and arranged to be compressedwhile the links are straightening and to expand after the links passtheir dead centers to eflect a quick movement, operating means for thetoggle mechanism, and a switch element connected with the togglemechanism.

32. In a switch, a cruciform supporting frame, upwardly extendingmembers on two oppositely disposed arms on the frame, armature guides onthe members, toggle mechanism supporting means on each member, a memberon one arm having means for supporting a bridging contact, and a memberoln the remaining arm provided with spaced s ots.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEANDER A. LAPLANT.

Witnesses:

NAPOLEON A. GALLAUT, Bns'sm MGKEAN

